TMQG Not Really President's Challenge

It was fun getting creative for the recent challenge project for the Toronto Modern Quilt Guild. We each chose a page at random from a variety of magazines provided by our "Not Really Presidents" and made a small quilt based on something that inspired us from the page content.

This is the page that I chose:

Mmmmmm.... let's start with the colour. Kona Cotton #150 Paprika, add #1019 Black & #1339 Snow plus a bit of upholstery fabric that is lying around the house

 

and I can see some flying geese shapes in the model's hair, skirt, and shoes. The pleats in the skirt might add some interesting shapes too. After a few false starts, I finally decide on a design. 

Next comes the freezer paper pattern (which I forget creates a mirror image of the design - I'll remember next time!). I learned this technique last year at Quilt Canada 2014 in Gail Garber's Goose is Loose course.

and finally the quilting: embellish the purse shape, add some interest to the pleats, and some free motion quilting on my new Bernina 740 with BSR (Bernina Stitch Regulator) to mimic the shape of the shoes.

The entries from the other TMQG members were amazing. The winner was inspired by a California Closets advertisement. Beautiful!

The great (and surprising) news is that my little 12" x 18" quilt received second prize! Look what I won, a prize ribbon created by Rebecca, one of our "Not Really Presidents". I love it!

'Till next time...

http://artful.ca

Birds Heading West

It was a UFO until this week.

Last June, I had fun taking Elaine Quehl's Fabric Dyeing course at Quilt Canada. The results were great... the colours vivid and the patterns interesting.

It just wouldn't be right to leave that beautiful fabric in a bin in my sewing room because it seemed daunting to cut into it. A few months later, I took scissors in hand and started cutting out the shapes for another bird quilt. (I really need to find another subject for my quilts. This is the fourth bird quilt I have made.) 

A bird sculpture that we had acquired many years ago was the inspiration. I don't know the artist's name. It has always been one of my favourite art pieces.

The UFO was pinned to my studio wall for a few months waiting for some more inspiration. It seemed a bit boring so I added some hand embroidery (French Knots, Seed Stitches, Simple Flowers) and some buttons and it was finally finished. 

"Birds Heading West"

Next time... no more birds (at least for a while)

Tweet Tweet Tweet

It started when I was the lucky winner of the EQ7 Tonga Cabana Block Challenge.
http://doyoueq.com/blog/2014/08/tonga-cabana-block-challenge-winner/

I decided to use some of the beautiful Timeless Treasures fabric and a bit from my stash to make a quilt with a birdhouse theme. I designed a foundation pieced pattern on EQ7 using one of Elizabeth Hartman's quilts as inspiration and then worked out a design for my art quilt.

Then came the piecing and the addition of the bird images. The images were printed on used dryer sheets using Artist Transfer Paper (which I love to work with) and embellished with some free motion tracing. 

Charcoal linen for the background, a bit of yarn and a few beads added the finishing touches. Then I pinned and pinned the quilt sandwich

and then free motion quilted using my favourite leaf design with some birdhouses interspersed. The free motion quilted birdhouses were inspired by Lori Kennedy on her blog http://theinboxjaunt.com/.

And finally, my little quilt was given a name: Tweet, Tweet, Tweet - which reminds me that I haven't used my Twitter account for a few days.

'Till next time...

A Great Idea

The latest Fons and Porter's Love of Quilting blog included a great tip:

Tip #6: Make a Quilt Repair Kit
For every quilt you make, consider also creating a repair kit. Just place pieces of the quilt fabric, binding, and a square of batting in a plastic bag and give it to the person receiving the quilt.

http://www.fonsandporter.com/blogs/?p=3018&et_mid=724278&rid=236222206

Why didn't I think of that?

Finally...

My latest project is a quilt - for myself!





I was inspired by some Charley Harper for Birch fabric to make an improvisational quilt using the bird images from the fabric.

I don't usually use taupes and neutrals in my quilts but I'm really pleased with the look. I incorporated some bits and pieces from my stash (great!) and have the whole quilt pieced and the quilt sandwich made, ready to start machine quilting tomorrow.